Daily Yellowstone journal., 1887-07-03
ALFALFA.
How IL is Grown and its Useful
ness in This Country
Described.
Hints to Grangers,
Stockmen and Others Iuter-
ested in this Industry.
Alfalfa-Colorado.

Alfalfa-Colorado.
A Colorado correspondent In writ
ing TO the Rural New Yorker upon the
cultivation and growth Of this grass
says:
"Alfalfa is better known In the east
by Its true name, Lucerne. Alfalfa is
the Spanish name, and we never hear
It called by any other here. To the
western ranchman 10 is great boon.
It's wonderful growth makes IL possi-
BILE for him to keep cattle and swinein
great numbers, whereas without 1t
comparatively little business could be
done. The second year after IL is
seeded 1t is always ready to cut three
times season, II properly irrigated.
Last season we might have had q
fourth cutting, but considered II much
more profitable to herd our cows
upon 1t.
"I have more than 100 acres of
ground well seeded to alfalfa. Sixty
five acres were sown In the spring.
In sowing alfalfa care has to be taken
about late frosts. II the ground lie wet
and freezes when the little Seeding
has only two leaves, the plant will be
ruined; II the third leaf is open it will
survive o frost. Hard frosts do not
hurt the old growth In the fall. In
seeding last spring 1 waited till dan
ger from frost was over, and met with
Q trouble nearly as much to be feared
namely. q drought. Some Of the
newly sowed land hsd TO be irrigated.
When irrigation has TO be resorted 10,
results are never satisfactory; the
flooded ground bakes a. IL dries, and
the tiny sprout has hard work to force
itself out, II 1t ever comes. The weeds
grow rapidly. and are somewhat of an
advantage a. they shelter the young
plants. The first cutting Of weeds and
little alfalfa is worth curing for the
cattle to pick over in the winter. II
should be cut for another reason; 90 far
the young plant has grown straight
and tall; after it 10 cut II will stool out
and dozens of stems will take the place
Of the first one, and good bye TO weeds
then-not one will find room TO show
its head on Q we'll seeded patch
There will be good cutting Of alfalfi
after the weeds are taken Off the frs
year.
"With US any land that can be irri
gated is suitable for the growth Of al
falfa. provided water cannot stanS
upon 1t. II standing water freezes Oh
alfalfa 1t is sure to kill out. 1t ha'
been claimed that alfalfa will grow
upon the plains beyond the reach o.
irrigation. 1t may live II 1t can be In
duced TO come up under such circum
stances; but when IL suffers from wan
of water II does not grow more thar
five inches high before II blossoms ou
and goes to seed; whereas II 1t is vel
irrigated II quickly grows over two fee
In height before 1t blossoms, when I
10 ready to cut.
"The roots run far into the ground
hence 1t is thought IL might thriv
away from irrigation. Soma Of on
land Is difficult to irrigate well, ant
one can readily see the difference be
tween the effects Of plenty Of waite
and none at all. Sometimes o stri
will be all purple with blossoms an
only q few inches high; while Of
either side Of IL the green grass !
nearly a. many feet tall % that
inches. Ifalfalfa is not thickly sesde
the stems will grow large and woody
When tue seed cost eighteen cents
pound. some thought they could nc
afford TO use more than fifteen pound
to the acre; but our farmers are raisln
the seed quite extensively now, an
eight pounds can be bought for do
lar, 90 they have learned TO use abor
twenty-five pounds TO the acre. A
falfa, like clover. will not bear niue
handling In curing. The leaves IA
off too readily. As soon as IL is willie
lit 10 made into punches and LEFT will
out tossing about. until II is ready
stack, which will be In three or for
days In our bright sunshine.
Treated In this way IL keeps !,
fresh, green appearance, and is great
relished by the animals TO which II
fed. When the miloh COWS are take
from other hay and fed on alfalfa II
noticeable that their butter improve
In color and flavor also. Care has
be exercised In feeding It. The an
mails are accustomed 10 the change .
feed gradually. When they are q
lowed 10 all themselves suddenly-e'
pecially when green, some Of ther
may bloat, and II not relieved shortl